Civic Tower, Casale Monferrato, Italy

The civic tower of Casale Monferrato is a brick construction with a square plan form. With its 60 meters of height the tower dominates the whole town and it is its most characteristic symbol. The lower side dates back to the original construction of the 11th century. It was built for defensive purposes later it became the symbol of civic power.

At the beginning of the 16th century the Paleologi family, Marquises of Monferrato, commissioned to the architect and sculptor Matteo Sanmicheli (Porlezza 1480-1528) a crowing element, which takes the form of a loggia. With a square plan form the loggia presents four mullioned windows, surmounted by another smaller loggia with an octagonal plan form.

On the top of the tower stands a colonnade and a small calotte, adorned with dolphins. Across the centuries the civic tower was modernized with painting plasters and decorative stucco. In 1920 there was a final restoration and so it has remained until today.

References:

Comune Casale Monferrato

Miscellaneous historic sites in Italy

User Reviews

Mario Niro (3 years ago)
Very beautiful especially at sunset, being illuminated on the top

Renato (5 years ago)
The symbol of Casale Monferrato. On open city days it is possible to climb to the top and admire the view

Angelo Bertocchi (6 years ago)
Rising in the landscape of Casale, stands on the left side of the church of Santo Stefano. With its 60 meters it is the symbols of the city. The lower part dates back to the eleventh century and the upper part of the early 1500s was born on the project of the architect and sculptor Matteo Sammicheli. At the top of the tower is the Gonzaga flag.

Fabrizio Pivari (7 years ago)
while not overlooking Piazza Mazzini it overlooks it

Andrea Gino (9 years ago)
Beautiful monument, unfortunately it is only possible to climb to the top during special occasions

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The ancient Argos Theater was built in 320 BC. and is located in Argos, Greece against Larissa Hill. Nearby from this site is Agora, Roman Odeon, and the Baths of Argos. The theater is one of the largest architectural developments in Greece and was renovated in ca 120 AD.

The Hellenistic theater at Argos is cut into the hillside of the Larisa, with 90 steps up a steep incline, forming a narrow rectilinear cavea. Among the largest theaters in Greece, it held about 20,000 spectators and is divided by two landings into three horizontal sections. Staircases further divide the cavea into four cunei, corresponding to the tribes of Argos A high wall was erected to prevent unauthorized access into the theatron and may have helped the acoustics, but it is said the sound quality is still very good today.

Around 120 CE, both theaters were renovated in the Roman style.

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